Replies

1. 
   Dan019 | Nov 12, 2004 07:01pm | #1

   Hi dick38,

   Basically because a drill press is a drill press is a drill press.

   They're all pretty much the same so you only need to decide whether you want a bench top or floor model.

   Some things that are handy are variable speeds so you can slow it down to cut metal and speed it up to drill wood. A quill lock so you can lock the head up or down. A light.

   You also need to decide how big the largest thing you might want to drill will be. This will help decise if you want a bench or floor model and if a bench model than how big. Does it need to be portable to throw in the back of a truck? All personal preference really.

   As far as accessory tables you can make them yourself to suite your needs. Rockler sells tracks and stuff.

   I got a Harbor Freight floor model 15 years ago and its great. This is one of the few big tools you buy where it doesn't really need to be a brand name to get quality.

   Dan

    

2. 
   scadaboy | Dec 01, 2004 07:29pm | #2

   I would disagree about drill presses being the same. The length of quill travel, the runout, the horsepower, number of speeds, depth setting mechanism, are all things I researched before buying. My 16" Jet has a depth stop that has a threaded rod with jam nut on it.  A great way to go. Some others have the rotary dial and a cheesy pointer and stop thing. With the rotary stop, after drilling a cribbage board, your last holes will be deeper than the first ones. If you want to drill big holes (2" or larger) with a forstner style bit, you want to go slooooooow. I think the Jet goes to 240 RPM. Drilling in stainless requires even slower speeds, 160 would be great.

   I have a cheap drill press I bought from harbor Freight about 15 years ago. The depth stop is made of plastic, so when you bottom out, you better not actually push on the depth stop because it will flex and you will go too deep. It is now my leather sharpening hone station---only.

   Can't recall exactly which, but one of the mags had a drill press review in the past 18 months.

   Not to disparage anyone, but why should all of the rules of manufacturing and tolerances and quality go out the door for this one tool? They just aren't that sexy of a tool. But there is a difference.

    

   Regards,

    

   Doug

1. 
   MichaelPB | Dec 02, 2004 05:45am | #3

   The drill presses made today are a pathetic shadow of what drill presses once were.

   I have made entire gun parts on a drill press but there is only one low end drill press even worth owning and that is the Delta.  It has a real depth control rod almost real quill travel (nearly 5" but old ones had 6") and most importantly, it has a quill lock which allows you to lock the quill at any position.

   Old drill presses allowed you to run shaper bits, do surface grinding, even do lathe work.

   They are certainly mostly equil in crappyness, I like Grizzley stuff but theirs don't even have 4" of quill travel.

1. 
   user-450633 | Dec 12, 2004 03:31am | #7

   Try to get a used industrial Delta Rockwell with variable speed or Taiwanese equivalent. They last forever and any repairs are easy.

   After market Taiwanese chucks to 1/2" are great and are safer and grippier(love that word) than a lot of ordinary keyed chucks. From 22- 34 bucks - a bunch on ebay also at Grizzly, Enco and used to be at Harbor Freight.

    

1. 
   Toolsguy | Dec 15, 2004 08:27pm | #8

   Reading this thread pains me to no end. My Grandfather was a tool and dye maker. WHen he passed, I was probably 15 or so. We sold off most of his big equipment, one of which was a monster of a drill press. What I would give to have that now.

3. 
   gusser33 | Dec 06, 2004 05:47am | #4

   Dick.  I went through all this a short while ago.  I have a Craftsman that is probably 15 years old.  I just purchased a new drill press for my son.  I bought a Delta floor model.  It is not the same machine as my old Craftsman, but, it was the best of the new ones.  I think they are all made in tiawan which is a shame.

1. 
   Dick38 | Dec 08, 2004 06:57am | #5

   Hi again jt,

   I just bought a new Delta drill press, supposed to be delivered this Friday. I looked on craigslist.org, found quite a few but they were mostly junk.

   Dick38

1. 
   AndyA | Dec 08, 2004 11:22am | #6

   Hi,
   I have a 17" Jet on the way. It had good reviews and seemed sturdy in the store. I'm a newbie so I don't have much to compare it to except for some of the shlock I've seen in the stores and on-line.
   Good luck.
   Andy